YouTube parental controls
Two different things share the name "parental controls" here, and only one of them actually holds.
- Time
- 18 minutes
- Difficulty
- A few steps
- Where
- Family Link for supervised accounts; per-browser for Restricted Mode
- Checked
- 2026-08
Recently changedFrom mid-2025 YouTube began estimating age from behaviour rather than trusting the stated birthday, applying teen protections to accounts it believes belong to minors.
Before you start: A supervised Google account through Family Link for the real controls.
Do this
- Open the Family Link app and choose your child
- Go to Controls, then Content restrictions, then YouTube
- Choose the content level for their age
- Separately, turn on Restricted Mode on each shared browser and device
The settings that matter
| Setting | Younger child | Teenager |
|---|---|---|
| Content levelSets how much of YouTube the supervised account can reach. | Explore — the narrowest tier | Explore More, moving up deliberately |
| AutoplayStops the next video starting on its own. | Off | Off — this one is worth arguing for |
| Search and watch historyPausing history stops recommendations compounding. | Pause | Pause after anything you would rather not see repeated |
What this does not do
- Restricted Mode is per-browser and per-device. It has to be set everywhere, and anyone with access to the device can switch it off.
- Supervision only applies while the child is signed in to that managed account. A second Google account, which takes a minute to create, bypasses all of it.
What people get wrong
- Treating Restricted Mode as a parental control. It is a weak, easily reversed toggle with no link to you at all.
Checked against YouTube supervised experiences
in 2026-08. Platforms change these settings often — if what you see does not match, the platform’s own
page is the authority, and we would be glad to be told.